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THE ART OF THE MOVIE POSTER

Russian-born Boris Bilinsky designed this Constructivist-inspired poster for the French release of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927)

Are beautiful movie posters a thing of the past? Of the 100 exquisite, astonishing or ground-breaking designs reproduced in Tony Nourmand’s 100 Movie Posters: The Essential Collection, only three are for films released since 1977.

Among the classic designs are several by the great Saul Bass, whose words are cited by Christopher Frayling in his introduction – good posters exist “at the meeting-point of art, design and commerce”. Where possible, Nourmand gives credit to artists and designers, adds information about legendary figures like Bill Gold (whose poster for Unforgiven launched a trend for figures turning their backs) and reminds us of innovative ad campaigns for films such as Rosemary’s Baby (“We bought ads in the birth announcements section of newspapers saying, ‘Pray for Rosemary’s baby’”, remembered ad man Steve Frankfurt) and 2001: A Space Odyssey (the psychedelic image of the Star Child embryo floating in an iris was not part of the main studio campaign, but was instead pasted guerrilla-style on walls and in subway stations).

It’s hard not to deplore the contrast between this glorious heritage and the posters of today: mishmashes of badly Photoshopped actors who clearly weren’t in the same room together, or tired rehashes of the latest trend; ever since The Social Network it’s been all about faces covered in BIG LETTERING, though the concept was never as original as it seemed – What Price Hollywood? already did that back in 1932. No, the people of the past were regaled with splendid images of Musidora of Les Vampires relaxing in an orange armchair, or Hedy Lamarr looking ecstatic in Extase, or Al Hirschfeld’s jazzy artwork for Cabin in the Sky, or Waldemar Swierzy’s stunning portrait of Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard.

Did passers-by who saw Boris Bilinsky’s modernist Metropolis skyscrapers consider it run-of-the-mill? How about those who beheld the dramatic advertising for “Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter” (director David Lean was relegated to the smaller print, further down)? Did they realise how blessed they were?

“I think the importance of the movie poster as an art form, and its historical importance, is something that has gained and is gaining appreciation in retrospect,” says Nourmand. “But I am sure that its beauty could have and would have been appreciated at the time.”

But perhaps we’re just being nostalgic for the sake of it, and in, say, 20 years’ time, many of today’s film posters will also look like classics?

“I doubt that,” says Nourmand. “They may evoke a sense of nostalgia, but I don’t think they will be remembered in the same way as ground-breaking posters like 2001 or Rosemary’s Baby.”

All we can do is pray that a producer or distributor or marketing director (for it’s they who hold the power, not the artists and designers) sees this wonderful collection, and is somehow inspired by it.

To get a better idea of the way film marketing departments copy poster memes till you’re sick of the sight of them, check out Les Sibères Affiches, Christophe Courtois’s diligently compiled blog of matchy-matchy movie posters.

6 thoughts on “THE ART OF THE MOVIE POSTER”

It’s an astonishing image. Wish film publicity departments would push the boat out and commission work like that now instead of churning out endless forgettable Photoshop copies of whatever was the last big thing.

The last really clever movie poster I saw was for The Truman Show. From a distance it just looked like a photo of Jim Carrey, but close up was a different matter, ingenious and really taking advantage of the medium.

Actually, maybe the last great one was from the year later: Alexander Payne’s Election is quite brilliant. But that was right at the end of the last century.

You’re back! You’re back! (OK it was a week ago but I was busy and missed it.)

I can’t match or even come close to your pick of film posters, so as slight recompence for making your comment stream look untidy. How about a big dollop of Nouveau/Deco instead. (I stumbled across this trying to chase down an obscure Henry Hering Carte de Visite.)

The Cinema section is a little sparse; but beer and chocolate are better served, -frites, not so good.

Possibly my favourite advert is the one that seems to promise, even if you have had both your legs blown off at Verdun, fitting our pneumatic tyres to your bathchair will allow you to out pace both cars and bicycles with consumate ease.

Tired of posters? Have a cinematic ‘itch’? A wider search through the site, will turn up contempary reviews of films from the period. A certain Ms. Brooks is mentioned among others. (There probably is much more but my French isn’t upto the job.)

So I’m a little late in discovering your blog. I’ve been reading your older posts and discovered you were once a graphic designer, like myself. I often wish poster design was an artform again (which I’m sure can be debated both ways) as I loathe most current film advertisements. I’ve found this website which posts “alternative movie poster art”. The artwork is a mix bag but there are some which would probably have been better choices for the specific film’s advertising. Cheers. Link: https://alternativemovieposters.com/

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